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Disability Claim Management
Most employers identify their employees as their greatest asset. In order to attract and retain high quality employees, employers recognize the need for a comprehensive benefits program. An integral part of any benefits program is Short-Term Disability (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD). In order to minimize the impact and length of disabilities, Fort Dearborn Life offers Disability Claim Management , thorough and comprehensive return to work services and STD/LTD early intervention programs.
STD/LTD Early Intervention
A key ingredient in reducing, or possibly even eliminating, the length and costs of long-term disability is early intervention. Once an STD claim has reached the halfway point of its duration, the LTD claims examiner is notified of the potential of this claim becoming an LTD claim.
Evaluating an STD claim before it transitions to LTD has the following advantages:
- Allows the claims examiner to get an early start on reviewing the claim as well as researching and identifying any return to work possibilities.
- Provides the claims examiner the opportunity to request additional information required to approve LTD payments and prevent interruption in benefit payments.
- Reduces the chance for interruption of benefits as the claim transitions from STD to LTD.
Getting the employee back to work earlier than expected achieves the following benefits:
- Cost savings to employer by reducing frequency and amount of claims.
- Cost savings to the employer by reducing lost productivity.
- Returns the employee to a productive lifestyle, which increases their self-esteem.
- Provides a win/win outcome for both the employer and the employee.
Return to Work Services
Return to Work services are designed to identify those employees where early intervention and rehabilitation programs can get them back to work quicker, thereby restoring their productivity and self-esteem. The following Return to Work services are provided to all Fort Dearborn Life long-term disability customers.
Worksite Modification
If a modification to the work area is all that is needed to get a claimant back to work, we will work with the employer and the claimant in identifying and, in most instances, paying for the cost of the modification.
Rehabilitation
Our rehabilitation programs are individualized and flexible. We develop an appropriate, cost-effective rehabilitation plan to return the employee to work. Among the services designed to assist in this process are:
- Job analysis to identify possible job modifications.
- Transferable skill analysis to identify transferable skills.
- Re-training or additional education.
- Job placement services which may include job seeking skills.
Case Management
In conjunction with the rehabilitation programs offered, we also employ a comprehensive case management program designed to identify candidates for aggressive return-to-work methods. Some factors considered when determining the type of case management are:
- Claimant motivation.
- Available employment opportunities with present employer.
- Medical stability of the claimant.
- Age and education level.
- Rural or urban job setting and the job market in local area.
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